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A PICTURE OF IRELAND IN THE CINEMAS

The Quiet Man (1952) Oh Danny boy, the films, the films are calling. From Hollywood to Dublin, and down the mountainside. The summer's gone, and all the moviegoers are dying. 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide. But come ye back when summer's in the theaters. Or when the Oscars hushed and white with snow. 'Tis I'll be here, in sunshine or in shadow. Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love film so.





Brooklyn (2015)


'Brooklyn' is based on the award winning novel written by Colm Tôibín, and tells the tale of Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman who uproots her life in Ireland and travels to Brooklyn to pursue new opportunities there. Along the way, Eilis finds love in the form of an Italian-American man called Tony (played by Emory Cohen). Yet due to an unforeseen family tragedy, Eilis is forced to return back to Ireland where her past emerges and leaves her struggling to decide between her old and new life.


Once (2007)


Set in the streets of Dublin, this lyrical masterpiece (boasting an original soundtrack from its two main stars), depicts the power of two people: One a street musician (Glen Hansard), the other a Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova), and together, the duo uses their music to fight their problems, work through their past, and find new meaning to the word love.


The Commitments (1991)


Now if you think about it, the people of Ireland are very much like the African-Americans of the 1950s. Some of them are unemployed. Some of them enjoy a drink. And overall, some of them know how to sing. Well, that's how Alan Parker tells it, when you watch his rag to riches musical-drama, 'The Commitments'. Basically this film chronicles the chaotic rise and fall of the Dublin Soul Band of which the film is named after. Robert Arkins stars as Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dubliner who finds himself inspired to start his own band after becoming fed up with the local music scene. With the hopes of sounding like some of the great American soul musicians of the sixties, Jimmy assembles a band, a very good band, which shows the world that Ireland has soul -- not to be mistaken with haddock.


The Field (1990)


In this drama Richard Harris plays an Irish farmer who has a passionate love affair with his land. Yes. That's right. I said, 'land'. In fact, he loves his land so much, that when an outside American investor wants to purchase it and build a highway there, well, let me tell you something for nothing. Despite him worrying that he might lose everything he's got, he isn't going down without a fight.


My Left Foot (1989)


You put your left foot in, your left foot out; in-out, in-out, and you shake it all about. You win an academy award and you turn around, and that's what 'My Left Foots' all about. Not. Daniel Day-Lewis plays an Irish lad named Christy that's plagued with severe cerebral palsy, and only has the ability to control the movement of his left foot. Worst still, most of the gits that live in his local community write him off as intellectually disabled, and treat him as such regardless of his feelings. But worry not, fellow film fans, with the help of his dedicated mother, teacher, and his own self-determination, Christy is able to show these idiots what's what, by becoming a talented painter, author, and poet.


The Quiet Man (1952)


Shhh! Be quiet. Be very-very quiet. Because in this film, John Wayne plays a retired boxer named Sean Thornton who decides to leave Pittsburgh to return to his native home of Ireland. The thing is, as soon as he buys his old childhood home, Sean’s attention gets slapped for a six by a beautiful local girl called Mary Kate Danaher (played by Maureen O'Hara). Straight away, he's bowled over by her beauty and gusto. So much so that he'll have to use all of his bruising talents to win her heart and the respect of her kin.

A PICTURE OF IRELAND IN THE CINEMAS A PICTURE OF IRELAND IN THE CINEMAS Reviewed by David Andrews on March 17, 2016 Rating: 5

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